GOPHERS HIRING BEN JOHNSON

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tmvander said:
John K on KFAN was saying it's about locking the border down...losing in state kids is frustrating but if you're basing your hire mainly on that it's pretty crazy really.

Even if w get in stare kids can they be coached? Developed? How does Johnson adjust in game? Who are the plan B recruiting options when the in state players keep leaving? Because the best ones still will more than likely
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Totally agree. You don't win college basketball games with recruiting. You've got to be able to develop kids to get it going. I'll take a solid coach over solid recruiter every day of the week. Twice on Sunday.
 


WilliamsArenaGuy said:
I suppose a draw is also supposed to be that he is local so he'd never leave on that chance this does work out. But he already left once! I don't even see him as someone who is necessarily dedicated for the long haul.
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That's the last thing we need to worry about right now.
 

Urbandale said:
There's no way you can say the process was a disaster. It may turn out that the choice was a disaster. But whether you agree with it or not, there's every possibility Coyle took his time, considered carefully, asked counsel from individuals he trusts, and made a thoughtful decision.
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I can absolutely say the process was a disaster. He hired someone without a resume. I hope he does well, I actually rooted for Xavier the last few years partially because of him, but when a Big 10 AD hires someone without a resume, the process was a disaster.
 


GophersInIowa said:
It has nothing to do with ending up being right or wrong in the end. It’s about having to see your 100% negative posts because you’ve already made up your mind no matter what happens.
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I was right about Pitino in the beginning and I am right about this one...like it or not.
 


howeda7 said:
I was one. And that was comparing him to Smith/Medved. I'd take Gates over Ben. His assistant resume is more solid and we have some idea that he can coach. I'd rather lose a coach to FSU in 3 years than fire one who flopped because he way, way over his head.
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Are you sure Gates is a better coach? I am not. Can Gates recruit better than Ben in MN.....I don't think so. Ben has a ton of MN connections.
 







Flipper1a said:
Why would Coyle be fired? Look at what Fleck and Motsko have done? Look at the Volleyball Coach hire.

Whalen and Johnson bleed MN....
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I’d rather them bleed something else if it meant winning.
 



gopherdudepart2 said:
Black has nothing to do with it, Ben Johnson can coach, people usually love the HE IS one of us MANTRA. I like Ben Johnson as a player, I don't understand the hate, head coaches have to start somewhere and XAVIER, is a good basketball school.
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I think a lot of people are surprised that the place to start is at the U of M in the Big10. Usually people start at Rider or Sam Houston State. I think we found out today that we aren't that far above those schools.
 



Maybe a decent chance Thorson joins him and who knows that kind of staff he'll put in place. Bright young coach and capable recruiter it seems, especially since he showed he could move elsewhere and still lure talent (I get it Xavier has some name recognition, but he brought talent in nonetheless, and who cares where from).

Yes he was only at Nebraska with Miles for one year, but I remember Miles being thrilled at the time to have him, then he bolted for Minnesota a year later. I suspect he shared his ideas with Coyle during the interview process. If we're going to spend days speculating on who turned the Gophers down or why Coyle didn't hire this other guy, it's going to be a long, long road.

I think it's more interesting to turn the page & look forward to learning about his plan, staff, etc.
 

Otis said:
OMFG! Did the Strib make this hire?

Holy Not ready for Primetime Batman!

I will not honor my 4 year no hard time on the new coach commitment.

He had better produce quickly.
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You gave RP 8 year and your cold at Johnson?? He better perform quickly? Get a life
 


gopherdudepart2 said:
It doesn't matter that much to me but it does seem to be a big sell in the local meida and the local coverage that U programs get.
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Thanks for clarifying - I wish someone would tell them to get over themselves and their puritan attitude.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
It's a tough sell when we just let a coach learn on the job for 8 years.

Now we're back to square one.
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How do you know? Give him some time. I watched one of Pitino's best rosters in his 8 years not be able to consistently shoot, run an offense, or play lockdown defense. We were pretty much back to square one.
 


JimmyJamesMD said:
I never had that impression of pitino. Lazy? Yes. Douchebags? No.

Richard probably didnt kiss enough AAU and high school butt while he was here. I'm sure Ben knows how to properly kiss ass
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I heard stories early on that made it seem that way....over the last few years I didn't the same impression of him.
 

gopherdudepart2 said:
All these diversity cheap shots are annoying as F. What does it matter about a person's race? That is total crap and y'all know it even if you are using it as a crutch or excuse for disliking something. Ben's a great dude and people are sh!tting all over him. A lot should be ashamed here, be pissed at Coyle maybe, but give Ben a chance for cripes sakes.
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I think this is exactly what is happening.

The diversity cheap shots are that most folks don't believe that Ben Johnson get hired if he was white. So DIVERSITY-BASED-HIRING played a part in Coyle's terrible decision.

That isn't a shot at Ben. My only shot at him is that he doesn't have a resume. I can't blame him for getting the job and I'll support him. I've seen almost ZERO people take a shot at Ben.
 

Flipper1a said:
Are you sure Gates is a better coach? I am not. Can Gates recruit better than Ben in MN.....I don't think so. Ben has a ton of MN connections.
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Who did his “MN Connections” lead to on either the Minnesota or Xavier teams?
 


NDGopher69420 said:
People won't like the hire because the color of his skin? And if you don't like him you're a racist? Get out of here with that bullshit. I've read some stupid posts but this one takes the cake.

People don't like the hire because he does not have anywhere close to the resume that should be expected of someone being hired to a head coaching job in the Big Ten.
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You don't get it. Get out here with your out of touch comment as well.
 

Holy Man said:
His loyalty is not in question. His readiness is.
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what loyalty?

from his NU recruiting notice:
Ben Johnson (guard, 6-3, 180, Minneapolis, Minn./De La Salle) -- High honorable mention All-American this year by Street and Smith Ranked No. 60 in the country by Bob Gibbons Listed among the top 100 players in the nation by Blue Ribbon Minnesota Player of the Year as a junior First-team all-state honoree as a junior by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press and Minnesota Basketball Magazine Three-time team captain Averaged 23 points, five rebounds and three assists as a junior Participated in the Nike camp last summer Earned a tryout for last summers U.S. Junior World Championship team Led De La Salle to the class AA state championship last season, scoring 35 points in the championship game De La Salle was state runner-up during his sophomore season Honor roll student Plays percussion in the school band High school coach is Dave Thorson Born Benjamin Lewis Johnson on 12/23/80 Son of Hal and Katie Johnson Chose Northwestern over Michigan State, Arizona, Seton Hall and Xavier.


looks like he grew up as a Minnesotan, but not a golden gopher. The U was his fallback school after two years at NU. add, he left the U for a similar position at Xavier.

I just really don’t get the “one of us” label.
 

WoodburyTim said:
I think a lot of people are surprised that the place to start is at the U of M in the Big10. Usually people start at Rider or Sam Houston State. I think we found out today that we aren't that far above those schools.
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No, coaches with Johnson's experience at P6 schools start at lower tier P6 programs.

That's what the Gophers are right now.
 

SanDiegoGopherFan said:
He wasn't a candidate for ANY other head coaching position. That tells you everything.
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Or, as far more likely, most of the other "rumors" were just that. Rumors.

Basketball writers and broadcasters, both at the NBA and College level, are notoriously awful at picking the next head coach, trades, draft picks, transfers etc. Usually because they throw nearly every speculation out there to see if it will "catch fire".

That's why, like in this case, people say how surprised they were by the hire. Why?

Because the hires that were speculated about are nearly always wrong.
 

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